Clean crazy

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78877

Title

Clean crazy

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this humorous Western tale, Hen Peck and Telescope Tolliver attempt to freshen up before a dance but end up naked and covered in cactus after a chaotic swim. Their misadventures involve stampeding horses, stampeding steers, and a frantic flight from a posse, all while trying to maintain their dignity in a world of 'clean crazy' antics.

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the rugged backdrop of Montana, W. C. Tuttle's comedic narrative *Clean Crazy* follows the misadventures of Hen Peck and his eccentric friend Telescope Tolliver. The story opens with the duo discussing hygiene before deciding to swim in a secluded hole near Tin Cup Crick. Their aquatic fun is abruptly interrupted by a herd of startled goats, causing their horses to bolt. Naked and covered in cactus spines, the pair flees on foot, narrowly avoiding a stampeding steer and a procession of wagons carrying women. They eventually hide in bushes to evade a posse hunting two escaped 'crazy men,' only to be mistaken for the fugitives themselves due to their naked state. Their desperate journey leads them to the ranch of old man Whittaker. Seeking refuge and clothing, they sneak into the master's bedroom, inadvertently waking three women and causing a panic. The women, believing the naked intruders are the escaped criminals, scream and alert the household. However, the situation is soon resolved when Chuck Warner and Muley Bowles arrive with news that the posse's pursuit was based on a lie; the actual escaped men had been caught at Warm Springs. Despite being dirty, covered in mud, and still wearing only a few scraps of clothing, Hen and Telescope are welcomed by the ranch hands. The narrative highlights the absurdity of the situation, contrasting the women's hysterical fear with the men's physical discomfort. Old man Whittaker, initially furious at the disturbance, eventually realizes the truth, exclaiming that he might have known Chuck was lying about the telegram. The story concludes with the two friends reflecting on their ordeal. They declare that while they may be 'crazy,' they are not 'clean crazy.' Vowing never to swim naked again, they resolve to wear gloves when washing their hands and hats when washing their faces, having learned a humorous lesson about the perils of getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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